Pregnancy. Oh, pregnancy. A time in a woman’s life where pretty much everything eventually becomes harder, heavier, bigger, yet increasingly more magical as she awaits the arrival of life’s most precious gift.
Of course, pregnancy is different for every woman. Some women love it, some women can’t wait for it to be over. For some women, life carries on as usual, for others activity has to be limited.
For women who lead an incredibly active lifestyle, like let’s say… horse trainers, pregnancy is an incredibly unique experience.
GoHorseShow sat down with three of the industry’s top trainers who are all expecting their first child in the next couple months to discuss what it’s like being a “pregnant horse trainer.” How they’ve made adjustments, what their plans are after the baby comes, and all the funny (and not so funny!) nuances of having a bun in the oven.
How Things Change
If nothing else changes during pregnancy, one thing always will: your ever growing tummy and changing body.
For Beth Case, who trains at Highpoint Performance Horses in Pilot Point, Texas and is expecting a boy on May 27, this couldn’t be more true.
“It’s really been pretty easy so far except for having to borrow show clothes and riding in maternity jeans,” she said (pictured right), “Most of them aren’t long enough, so that’s annoying. But at this point, who cares?”
Jenna Gibbs of Gibbs Show Horses in Collinsville, Texas, due on May 11th and also expecting a boy shared that accepting this new (albeit temporary) body has been quite the experience.
“It may sound vain, but watching my body change and realizing this is okay and what is supposed to happen has been a challenge,” she said, “Wanting to do more and accepting the changes has definitely been difficult.”
“You’re just physically not yourself,” said Darla Lee (pictured left) of Lee Quarter Horses located in Plain City, Ohio, “The hardest part of this business is being pregnant.”
Lee is expecting a boy on April 20th.
However, more has had to change for these women than just their bodies.
Although none of them have been put on any heavy restrictions, they have all been forced to change some of the horses they ride and train.
And let’s just say that has not been easy for any of them.
“I’ve had to ask for help with the horses I know could potentially buck me off,” said Case, “I absolutely hate getting off and letting someone else do it.”
“I’m in my third trimester now and I’ve had to start really taking it easy,” Jenna said (pictured right). “Jeff (Jenna’s husband) won’t let me ride any of the colts, and I’m now suffering with my sciatic and some bulged discs in my back so as hard as it is to take it easy, I’ve had to.”
“This is the first time in my career I haven’t broken out my own colts and that part has been incredibly hard,” Lee told us.
Both Case and Gibbs are also now using the dreaded mounting block, while Lee boasts she still can manage on her own.
“Although, now that I’m further along, I have noticed the compromise in balance while riding,” she chuckled.
The Ups and Downs of Pregnancy
As previously mentioned, pregnancy is different for every woman and one of the first things people usually want to know is: Did you have morning sickness?
Case (pictured left), is one of those lucky women who never suffered from morning sickness.
Author’s Note: Neither did I during my pregnancy in 2013 and I must say, it was glorious!
However, other women aren’t as lucky.
“My first trimester I was so sick,” said Gibbs, “like, all day sick. It was intense, and we had the APHA World Show during that time too. I had to show in both the western pleasure and hunter under saddle, and it was very tough to deal with.”
Gibbs shared that her “morning sickness” (such a misnomer) lasted from about week 5 until week 17 of her pregnancy, and it, understandably, was incredibly trying.
Lee was right in the middle.
“I wasn’t throw up sick, but I was nauseated constantly,” she said.
However, Lee (pictured right) said that giving up the energy drinks was just as bad as morning sickness for her.
“I think our clients knew before we told them I was pregnant simply because I was no longer drinking them!” she chuckled.
As for those “cravings?”
“I’m not a really healthy eater,” said Case, “So, I was hoping I might crave healthy stuff, but no, I still only like junk food!”
“I can’t get enough egg salad and a lot of milk,” Gibbs said.
Lee said, “I actually have not had any cravings. There has been more foods that I have actually stopped eating… like fast food. I always have loved fast food but now none of it sounds good.”
And even though the women shared how an ever growing belly can be hard to deal with and the “Debbie Downer” of pregnancy, there is one part of the body that the women agreed has quite the opposite effect and is definitely an upside.
“The boobs are fun,” said Case. (pictured left)
“I have boobs now and my husband loves them,” laughed Gibbs.
“Definitely thankful for the boobs,” said Lee.
Author’s Note: I think most women who have been pregnant or the husband of any woman who has been pregnant can give an amen to that!
Baby Time
Of course, there will come a time when these women shift from pregnancy to motherhood and how these women plan on making that shift is all rather similar.
“We want to try and keep the schedule as normal as possible,” said Lee, “Of course, I hope to be back to riding very soon.”
“I don’t really plan on taking any more time off than absolutely necessary,” said Case.
“In a perfect world, I wouldn’t take any time off,” laughed Gibbs, “In reality, I will just take off as much time as needed. Luckily, we do live on the ranch and have Jeff’s mom to help, so I imagine I will be back to it rather quickly.”
Of course, when you train at the level these women do, part of the job includes extensive travel.
Will their little cowboys be road warriors?
“Yes!” said Gibbs (pictured right). “Clients are already arguing over who gets to watch the baby. Obviously, there will be some changes as I won’t be able to work all night, every night, at the shows, but, hopefully, we will have lots of help.”
“We plan on taking him to everything but the Congress just because it is so long and hard on everyone,” said Lee, “We don’t live far so he will be able to come and visit.”
While both Gibbs and Lee have husbands who are also horse trainers and can share in “horse show baby watching duties”, for Case, whose husband is a police officer and does not travel with her to the shows, she is looking forward to the help from clients and friends. (pictured left)
“I’ve been promised lots of help,” she said, “The clients are all pretty excited, so I think it will work out.”
Gibbs and Lee also shared how their clients are handling the pregnancy and how much their support has meant to them.
“Everybody has been very supportive,” said Gibbs, “We really tried to plan it at a good time and I think we did. It’s just starting to get busy and I’ll be back to it when things are at their busiest.”
“Brian and I have been married for 13 years and waited a long time to start a family,” Lee shared (pictured right), “We never wanted to sacrifice any part of the business and this will be hardest on our hunter under saddle clients as we do have some shows set up where I won’t be able to show. However, they have all handled it really well which has made it easier.”
Clearly, being a mom and a horse trainer presents a unique set of challenges that not every mom experiences, however, all three women shared how lucky they feel to “work from home.”
“I am very thankful I don’t have to go back to ‘a job,’” said Gibbs, “As hard as it is going to be to balance it all, I’m glad I don’t have to go back ‘to work.’”
Case agreed, “It won’t be easy, but at least I can put a playpen by the arena and have the baby close…or leave him in the office with Christi!”
“I think the bigger challenge will be when they get older and you have school and everything,” said Lee, “I hope things will be easier since I don’t have to get up and ‘go to work’ every morning.”
Anyone who has ever showed horses knows that it really is like one big giant “family” so it is probably pretty safe to say that these little cowboys will be welcomed and loved by many!
